CRAVE
SOJOURN OF A HUNGRY SOUL
© 2015 by Laurie Jean Cannady
All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical articles or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher.
The author has attempted to recreate events, conversations, and spaces from childhood memories and memories recounted to her by family members and friends. Some names have been changed.
Etruscan Press
Wilkes University
84 West South Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766
(570) 408-4546
Published 2015 by Etruscan Press
Cover design by Laurie Powers
Cover photo by Rachel Eliza Griffiths
Interior photographs courtesy of Mary Carter
Interior design and typesetting by Susan Leonard
The text of this book is set in Goudy Old Style.
First Edition
15 16 17 18 19 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Cannady, Laurie Jean, 1974-
Crave : sojourn of a hungry soul / Laurie Jean Cannady. -- First edition.
pages cm
ISBN 978-0-9903221-4-6
1. Cannady, Laurie Jean, 1974---Childhood and youth. 2. Cannady, Laurie Jean, 1974---Family. 3. African Americans--Virginia--Biography. 4. African American families--Virginia--Biography. 5. African American families--Social conditions--20th century. 6. Virginia--Social conditions--20th century. I. Title.
E185.97.C25A3 2015
306.85’08996073--dc23
2015002581
Please turn to the back of this book for a list of the sustaining funders of Etruscan Press.
This book is printed on recycled, acid-free paper.
To those curvy, unnerving, twist walking, body talking, get-all-up-in-your-face women. Ones who don’t take no crap, even though it’s often tossed at them. Ones making ends meet, when no ends exist. Those ladies can’t nobody stand, ’cause no one understands them. Not many things are dedicated to you. This book is.
“If growing up is painful for the Southern Black girl, being aware of her displacement is the rust on the razor that threatens the throat. It is an unnecessary insult.”
—Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
“A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, but to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.”
—Proverbs 27:7
CRAVE
FROM SCRATCHFrom ScratchA Feast in the MakingThe Way It Is DoneThe ReasonsThe CoastMISSING INGREDIENTSMissing IngredientsWhite WashSnow ColdNowhere ManUNNECESSARY ADDITIVESBlack OakLearning CurveNo-No ZoneSIDE DISHES AND ENTREESSide Dishes and EntreesCasualty of WarPrayer ListThe Good ReverendStubbleThe SingerOur SongRESTARTING FROM SCRATCHRestarting from ScratchSweet and SourNew RecipesGuard DutyCool It NowHIDDEN INGREDIENTSNothing New in NewFrom Constitution to QueenOur SecretA Teenage LoveBlind SpotYellow PeaceA MESS OF POTTAGEA BreakLincoln ParkWhen It RainsWondering and WanderingWar of WarsNo Peace in DysfunctionFew Good MenThe Living Doesn’t Get EasierHUNGER PAINSCutting Into a New MeDirt Can Never CleanWe Each Miss HerChicken LittleEarly to RiseFood for ThoughtMALNUTRITIONNever TellReawakeningLemme Show You SomethingPut a Fork in ItEYES BIGGER THAN YOUR STOMACHLife Rang OnMy HappyDull PainGotta Be My Own HealingPretty as PatPatty ChangePURGEMr. Lover ManOn the Next Bus
FROM SCRATCH
From Scratch
A Feast in the Making
The Way It Is Done
The Reasons
The Coast
MISSING INGREDIENTS
Missing Ingredients
White Wash
Snow Cold
Nowhere Man
UNNECESSARY ADDITIVES
Black Oak
Learning Curve
No-No Zone
SIDE DISHES AND ENTREES
Side Dishes and Entrees
Casualty of War
Prayer List
The Good Reverend
Stubble
The Singer
Our Song
RESTARTING FROM SCRATCH
Restarting from Scratch
Sweet and Sour
New Recipes
Guard Duty
Cool It Now
HIDDEN INGREDIENTS
Nothing New in New
From Constitution to Queen
Our Secret
A Teenage Love
Blind Spot
Yellow Peace
A MESS OF POTTAGE
A Break
Lincoln Park
When It Rains
Wondering and Wandering
War of Wars
No Peace in Dysfunction
Few Good Men
The Living Doesn’t Get Easier
HUNGER PAINS
Cutting Into a New Me
Dirt Can Never Clean
We Each Miss Her
Chicken Little
Early to Rise
Food for Thought
MALNUTRITION
Never Tell
Reawakening
Lemme Show You Something
Put a Fork in It
EYES BIGGER THAN YOUR STOMACH
Life Rang On
My Happy
Dull Pain
Gotta Be My